Nearly 50% of Republican Voters Not Committed to a Candidate

By: Connie LeGrand/News Channel 7 | News Channel 7
Published: January 17, 2008

           With South Carolina's Republican primary just days away, A Clemson University Palmetto Poll reveals 46% of GOP voters surveyed say they aren't committed to a candidate.   Interest is high. Only three percent say they are not paying much attention to the news about the presidential election. So why are so many undecided?
     Laura Schmid of Spartanburg has something in common with many other South Carolina Voters. "I'm leaning toward a couple of candidates, but I'm still undecided," said Schmid.
      According to the Clemson poll conducted between Jan. 9 and 15, Schmid is among the more than 46% of South Carolina republicans who say they might change their minds out how they will vote for before Saturday’s Republican Primary.
      That’s no surprise to USC Upstate Political Science Professor Dr. Tim Dale, who says South Carolinians are waiting to meet the candidates in person. According to Dale, "Really, above almost anything else, people, particularly in early primary states, want to look someone in the eye and tell what it is that their like." It’s what’s called a likeability factor, which Dr. Dale says can carry a lot of weight. "Issues are very important. They are also looking for candidates they like… that they can connect to, that they trust. Politicians have a reputation for being, frankly, politicians.” So it's up to those politicians to prove to undecided voters like Kirk Bailey they can be believed and trusted. Bailey, owner of Jimmy John’s restaurant in Spartanburg, says “There are just so many people out there with so many different, they change their sides, every day that nobody really stand out to me and has everything I'm looking for in a candidate."
      Even for voters who say they are decided, it might not be set in stone. “There are a lot of people who may have chosen a candidate and maybe thinking about a candidate but are willing to support someone else if they hear something different in the next three days,” says Dale.


Clemson University Palmetto Poll:
http://www.clemson.edu/newsroom/articles/top-stories/JanPalmettoPollGOP.php5

USA Today Quiz to match you with a candidate:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/candidate-match-game.htm

Washington Post “Choose Your Candidate” quiz:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/interactives/candidatequiz/